Mattress-machine.



N0. 664,882. Patented Jan. I90l.

J. W. MORGAN. v

MATTRESS MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 12, 1898.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

Witnesgs "III-1:: h u I v n l ki/k aryan, Inventor I ymurnalon/ Patented Jan. l90l. J. W. MORGAN.

MATTRESS MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 12, 1898.)

(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

No. 564,882. Patented Jan. I, IBM.

J. W. MORGAN.

MATTRESS MACHINE.

Application filed Sept. 12, 1898.) (m Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet a."

Fig. 5

M if L Ir M (No Model.)

Patented Ian. I, IBM. J. W. MORGAN.

MATTRESS MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 12, 1898.)

I r "a Unirnn 'ra'rfss PATENT Fries.

JOHN IV. MORGAN, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGI MENTS, TO THE TENNESSEE FELT NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF WEST nTTnEss-MAoHmE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 654,882, dated January 1, 1901.

7 Application filed September 12, 1898. Serial No. 690,776. (110 model.)

To all; whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN W. MORGAN, a v igi zenvof the United States of America, and a resident of San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mattress-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved machine for.

making mattresses from lint-cotton andthe like materials, which is compressed into a bat, ejected from the press, and in the process of being so ejected inserted in the tick.

One object of my invention is to provide :5 improved means whereby the press-box and follower may be varied in operative width to adapt the machine for making mattresses of various widths.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved machine in which a pair of press-boxes revoluble on a common axis are employed and adapted to be alternately disposed under a follower and'a distributing or feed box, so that the material may be compressed into a mattress in one pressbox while the other is being filled with lint tomake another mattress.

A furiher object of my invention'is to provide improved means for stiifenin'g the compressed mattress-bat while the same is being inserted into the tick to facilitate the insertion thereof into the tick.

My invention consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed ont-in the claims. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a mattressmaking machine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of one of the press-boxes, showing the same in operative position under the follower or pressblock. Fig. 3 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view taken on the line cc of Fig. l. Fig. i is a detail top plan view of the extensihle section of the press-block or follower employed for increasing the width of the.

press-block or follower. Fig. 5 is a detail transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the I same, showing the extension-piece secured to one side of the follower. Fig. '7 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View of ofieof the pressbo'xes, showing a mattress in process of being compressed therein. Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse sectional vicw of the same. Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing the manner of ejecting the mattress-bat from the press-. box and of forcing the same from the pressbox into the tick. Fig. ll is a detail perspective view of one of the upper stiffeningslars adapted to be attached to the under side of the follower. Fig. 12 is a similar view of one of thelower stiifening-slats adapted to be attached to the bottom of the press-box.

The press-boxes A and A are constructed, preferably of Wood, in any suitable manner and are adapted to be supplied at their upper ends with the cotton or material for the mattresses from a distributingbox K. The said distributing-box is provided with revolnble healers, (indicated at N,) which serve 'to distribute the lint-cotton evenly throughout the area of the distributing-box and cause the same to fall by gravity from the distributing-hox into the press-box below the distributing-box. The cotton is fed to the dis tributing-box through a chute, (indicated at 1,) and the heaters are rotated by any suitable means. Said heaters are disposed transversely in the distributing-box and comprise radial arms N, which project from their shafts near the sides of the distributing-box and carry transversely disposed fans N which extend across the distributing-box. The press-boxes are connected together for simultaneous movement around a'common vertical axis which is formed by a vertical shaft C, and the two press-boxes are arranged go to work in connection with the distributor and feeder K and the verticaliy-movable follower or press-block L. The said follower is in the form of a block and is provided with side extensions, which may be attached there- 5 to, so that the width thereof may be varied to suit the width of the press-boxes, which is also variable by the means, in the manner,and

for the purpose presently described herein.

In the operation of. the machine the material :00

. 'through said openings in the process of being ejected from the press-boxes and inserted in is fed into one press-box from the distributer K, after which the press-boxes are turned on the vertical shaft, so as to bring the filled box below the follower. At this stage in the op- 5 eration of the machine the empty press-box isbelow the distributor K, while the filled or partly-filled press-box is below the follower L, which may now be lowered for the purpose of compressing the material in the said pressbox to form a hat or felt thereof- Offl the rel quired thickness of a mattress and of suitable density, while the other press-box is being i ipplied with material from the distribuer e The press-boxes A A are of suitable dimensions, usually about six feet in length, five feet in wid th, and six feet in height, and said press-boxes are provided with movable side boards D D. A pair of iron brackets B, having central openings through which the shaft 0 extends, serve to connect the PllOXl mate inner sides of the press-boxes together. The shaft 0 is secured at its upper and lower ends, as shown, or in any other suitable manner to the floor and ceiling of a building in which the machine is located. The movable side boards D D are each provided, respectively, with brackets E E, which project beyond the ends thereof and are provided with threaded openings, forming traveling nuts which erate in horizontal slots 25 in theend boards 26 of the boxes. Adjusting-screws F F engage the said-brackets E E and serve toadjust the side boards D l3 laterally, as may be required to narrow or widen the press-boxes.

The said ad 'ustin' -screws FF are so orted.

J a. pp

against endwise movement in suitable bearings in the uprights-of the framework of the end boards, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.' Collars G6, with which said set-screws are providedlserve to .prevent the same from moving longitudinally, and said adj listing-screws are further provided with angular heads H H, adapted for the attachment of a wrench or handle, whereby the said adjusting-screws may be turned. In practice the said side boards D'D may be adjusted so as to make tl1e..widthof the press-boxes from two feet six inches -to five feet, according to the size 5 of the mattresses to be made.

With'openipgs M M of suitable width and height, said openings being at the lower sides of the said end boards and at the lower sides of the press-boxes, the bats or felts passing the ticks. Tick-holders W, comprising metallic plates, preferably iron or steel, secured at the upper and'lower sides of the said openings M M, form-spouts or months through 1 Qwhich the bats pass while being ejected from the press-boxes and further serve to hold the ends of the ticks open, the open end of the tickbeing passed over said tick-holders be- Jere-the cotton-bats are ejected from the press- 'bexes-, so that as .the same pass out through Theend boards of the boxes are provided the openings M M they are inserted in the ticks.

It is of importance tostiflen the bats to facilitate the introduction thereof into the ticks, and to effect this I employ two series of stiffeningslats 21 23. The slats 21'are the upper slats, adapted to bear upon the upperside of the bat, and the slats 23 are the lower slats, adapted to bear under the bottom of the bat. The follower is provided on. its lower side with longitudinal grooves20, extending from end .to end thereof, the said grooves being partly covered by metallic strips 20 on opposite sides thereof, longitudinal slots being formed between the said pairs of metallic strips. The said upper slats 21 are provided on their upper sides with keepers 22, which are here shown andpreferablyin the form of rollers which are adapted to fit and silde in the grooves 20, the pivotal portions thereof forming theconnections b tween them and open slots formed between the pairs of. strips 20, forming the lower sides of the grooves 20. Prior'to the formation of a mattress the said upper slats 21 are inserted or secured under the follower and attached thereto by means of their keepers 22 in said grooves 20, so that as the follower-descends the stiffem ing-slats 21 are'carried-downward with it and compress the upper side of the hat. The bottoms of the press-boxes are provided on their upper sides with longitudinal grooves 24, in

which the lower slats 28 are inserted prior to the formation of the bat, and as the bat is ejected from the press-box into the tick by the means hereinafterde'scribed the said upper and lower stiffening-slats pass with the said bat into the tick and are afterwzird'withdrawn therefrom, the said stiifeningslats serving to stiffen the .bat and secure the requisite rigidity while the batis being inserted in the tick, as will be readily understood.

' I will now describe an ejector mechanism by means ofwhioh the bats as the same are compressed and formed may be ejected from the press-boxes and forced into the ticks.

A transversely-disposed block J, made of iron or othersuitable material, is arranged on the bottom of each of the press-boxes and adapted to be moved longitudinally thereon and provided with a depending bracket 0, which operates in a longitudinal slot P in the bottom of the press-box and projects below the same a suitable distance. A screw-shaft Q passes through and engages a threaded opening inthe lower portion of the said bracket 0. Said shaft is provided against endwise movemcntand has its ends journalcd in bearings R S at opposite ends of the pressbox and is provided with a mitergear-wheel 27, which is fast thereon. A shaft T is journaled-in suitable bearings at the inner end of the press-box, is provided with a miter gear-wheel U, which engages the miter-gear 2 7, and is providedatits outer end with a hand-crank V, whereby it may be manually rotated. It will be understood that by turning the shaftT in one direction the block J may be moved outward on the bottom of the press-boX, so as to eject the bat therefrom, and by turning said shaft T in the opposite direction said block .1 may be run inward on the bottom of the press-box. The block J engages the inner ends of the stiffening-slats,

and when the saine is moved outward to eject aha-t from the press-box said block moves the said slat-s, together with thebat, into the tick, and the said slats are afterward withdrawn from between the tick and the bat before the end of the tick is sewed up.

The follower L corresponds in width with the narrowest mattress for the manufacture of which the machine is adapted, and when it is desired to make mattresses of greater width it is of course necessary to widen the said follower. To etfect'this,l provide extensionpieces 13, which are adapted to be placed on the sides of the follower and are connected together by transverse bars 12, which latter extend under the follower and fit in grooves in the under side of the follower. In order to secure the extension-pieces to the sides of the follower, I provide brackets 17, which are preferably made of metal and are right angular in longitudinal section, shown in Fig. 6. The said brackets are secured on the upper sides of the extension-pieces 13 by means of screws, bolts, or in any other suitable manner, and are provided with hinged leaves 18-,which are adapted to be folded on the upper side of the follower, and are provided with longitudinal openings to receive the heads of turnscrews l5,whichlatt.er when the heads thereof are turned at right angles to the slots in the leaves, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. '7, serve to etfectually secure the leaves to the upper sides of .the follower, and thereby to secure the extensions to the follower, as will be readily understood. The follower may be of any suitable construction and may be made of any suitable material. In the drawings I have shown the follower as being composed of boards connected together by brace-bars 14 on the upper sides thereof and forming a rigid frame. It will be understood that the width of the extension-pieces 13 will be varied to suit the requirements of the case.

I will now describe means by which the follower may be operated.

A screw 1 has its lower end swiveled to the center of the follower. The said screw passes through an opening (3, with which a supporting-standard 5 is provided, and on the said screw is a collar 8, which rotates in said.open-,

ing ti, engages the threads of the screw, and

is provided at its lower end with a miter gearwheel 7. Said gear 7 is engaged bya similar gear a on ashalt 35, which is provided with a crank '2, whereby it may be rotated. It is'obvions that by this means the follower maybe raised and lowered by imparting rotatory motion to the screw 1. In order to prevent the follower from turning on the lower end of its operatingscrew 1,-1 provide vertically-depending brackets 9,which have vertical guides 10, that engage notches 11 in'the ends of the follower as the latter is raised from the upper side of the press-box, and hence the follower is maintained in aiinement with the press-box.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a mattress-press of the class described, in combination with a press-box having laterally-adjustable sides,whereby the width thereof maybe varied, afollower, extension-pieces adapted to be placed on the sides thereof and secured thereto, and cross-bars connecting said extension-pieces and disposed under the follower, substantially as described.

2. In a mattress-press of the class described. in combination with a press-box having later.- ally-ad j ustable sides,whet'eby the width thereof may be varied, a follower, extension-pieces adapted to be placed on the sides thereof, and connected by cross-bars which bear under said follower, hinged leaves on said extension-pieces, and fastening devices to receive said leaves on the upper side of the follower, substantially as described.

3. Ina mattress-pressof the class'described, the combination of a press-box having a'discharge-opening, and a bottom provided on its upper side with longitudinal grooves, a follower or pressure-head having longitudinal grooves on its tower side, stidening-slats in said grooves of said follower and the bottom of the press-box, and an ejector adapted to force the bat, together with said stiifeningslats from between the follower and the bottom of the press-box, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

4. In a mattress-making machine, a pair of connected press-boxes revoluble on a vertical axis and having discharge-openings, and a; bat-ejector mechanism carried by each pressbox at the lower part thereof, in combination with a feeding mechanism arranged in an overhead position to supply material to one press-box, a pressure mechanism in operative relation to the other press-box, and means for operating the ejector mechanism, substantially as described. I

5. In a mattress-making machine, a pair of connected press-boxes shiftable on a vertical axis and havingdischarge-openings, a batejector device carried by each press-box at the lower part thereof, and a common operating device connected operatively with each bat-ejector device and adapted to operate the latter subsequent to the compression of the bat in said press-box, in combination with a distributing mechanism in operative relation to one press box, and a bat-co rnpression mechanism in a like relation to the other pressbox, during the period of filling the firstnamed press-box by the-feeding mechanism, substantially as described.

6. In a mattress-making machine, a pressure-head, and a series of slate detaehably connected to said pressure-head to travel therewith, in combination with a press-box within which the pres'sure h'ead and the slats thereof are adapted to traverse, crating the pressure-head, and guided in the press-box to travel below the slats of the pressure-head, substantially as described.

.7. In a mattress-making machine, a pressure-head consisting of a series of sections, and slatsconnected detachably to the lower side of the sectionahheadfin combination with ajpress-box, means for moving the pressureheadbodily .with relation to the press-box, and a bat-ejector arranged to traverse the press-box below the slats on the pressurehead, substantially as described.

8. In a mattress-making machine, a sec-,

means for optional pressure-head consisting of a series of low the members arranged in the same transverse plane and each provided with a groove in its under side, a series of slats below the pressure-head, and means connecting the. slats head, in combination with a press-box, means for operating the pressure-head, and a'batejector arranged to traverse the press-box beslats on the pressure-head, substantially as described. I

9.- In a mattress-making machine, the com: bination withadistributer and a verticallymovable pressure-head, of a spindle occupying a fixed vertical position between said distributer and the pressure-head, a pair of connected press-boxes mounted idly on the spindie and shiftable thereon with relation to the distributer and the pressure-head, a bat-ejec-.

for device arrangedto traverse the lower part' ably confined in of the press-box, and means for positively operating each bat-ejector, substantially as described. I .10. In a mattress-making machine,the combination with a distributer, of vertical paraL lel guides disposedin the same horizontal plane as the distributor and at one-side of the vertical planethereof, a pressure-head slide a bat-ejector said guides, a pair of connected press-boxes disposed below, and shiftable on a vertical axis with relation to, said distributor and pressure-head and each pressbox provided with guides arranged to aline vertically. with the first-named guides,means a bat-ejector. head carried by the press-box and arranged to traversethe chamber thereof press -box, substantially as d ein a path coincident with the plane of the tick guide and spreader, in combination with apressure mechanism, and means for operatinggthe bat-ejector head, substantially as de- 7 ser 'bed. 1 r 7 i 12. In a mattress-making machine,the combinationwith afeeder,and a pressure mechanismyofa pair of connected press-boxes shiftable on a vertical axis below said distributor and the pressure mechanism, a bat-ejector head slidably confined in the lower part of each press-bjo-xto beshiftable therewith and arranged to traverse I the bat compression cha m'ber thereof, .andfmeans mounted on the press-boxes for individually operating said bat-ejector heads, substantially as described.

lidnja machine for making mattresses,the combination with a press-box having an opening on one side, through which thebat or felt maybe ejected, a'follower and means to operate the same, an ejector, and. upper and lower slats movable with said ejector, .for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

Signed by me at San Antonio, lst-day of September, 1898. JOHN W. MORGAN.

Texas, this Witnesses I JAMES W. GILLEsPIn, I FEBNno. S. SANDOVAL. 

